Cash register



-Qct. 15, 1929. J. .1. KLOSTERMAN 9 CASH REGISTER Filed Feb. 12, 1923 4Sheets-Sheet 1 amvemto z Joleph J. Kloaterman J. J. KLOSTERMAN Oct. 15,192 9.

' CASH REGISTER Filed Feb. 12, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 15, 1929. J.J. KLOSTERMAN 1,731,929

QASH REGISTER Filed Feb. 12, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.4

as: s can a bu 111 SERID 3 M Joseph J. finer? CASH REGISTER Filed Feb.12, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Elma/M01 Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE JOSEPH J. KLOSTERMAN, F DAYTON,

OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

THE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OFMARYLAND CASH REGISTER Application filed February 12, 1923. Serial No.618,553.

This invention relates to improvements in accounting machines and hasmore particular relation to those which, in addition to accumulatingamounts in a totalizer, make a printed record of all transactions, andindicate the same, and print and issue a receipt for each transaction.

It is an object of this invention to provide mechanism for releasing aregistering machine for operation incidental to setting up or indexingan amount on the keyboard. In case of a motor driven machine, it is alsoan object to make the circuit through the motor at the same time themachine is released.

It is also an object of this invention to provide two-part keys, onepart for indexing purposes and to select for operation, the other partwhich controls a totalizer actuator.

It is a further object to provide a key lever comprising two partsconstructed to move as a unit during setting-up or indexing operationsby manipulation of the front part of the key, and to permit the rearpart tobe moved independently of the front part during completion of anoperation of the machine by means of a crank or motor or other operatingmeans.

Specifically, an object of this invention is a modification of themechanism of machines of the general type disclosed, to provide for acontrol of the differentially operating actu ating means, and areleaseof the machine by a slight depression of manipulative portions oftwo-part keys; to reduce the numberof manipulations required to enter atransac-- tion; to provide for an easier key action by operating fewerparts from the key coupler; and to provide means other than keys, foroperating the key coupler after it has received its initial movementunder the action of the manipulative portions of the keys as amounts areset up;

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, theessential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and apreferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter. described withreference to the drawings which accompany and form part of thisspecification.

Of said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of part of the machine to which this embodiment ofthe invention is applied.

Fig. 2 is a. vertical sectional view of the ma chine.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the totalizer, shown partly in cross section.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view showing a part of the printingmechanism, together withthe operating handle. 4

Fig. 5 is a view of a receipt. issued by the machine.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the electric motor driving mechanism.

F ig. 7 is a side elevational view of the mechanism between the rightside frame and the printer frame.

F ig.' 8 is a detail view of the key coupler driving mechanism.

The above mentioned improvements have been shown applied to a machine ofthe type disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States, issued toThomas Carney, No. 588,127, granted August 17, 1897, and Letters Patentof the United States, issued to Edward J. Von Pein, Re; 15,883, rantedAugust 5, 1924.

The machine disclosed is, in general, the same as that shown in theCarney and Von Pein patents referred to. Only so much of the generalmechanism is disclosed as is necessary to give an understanding of thisimprovement, and the machine will be described only in so far as isnecessary to understand the invention here involved.

The machine comprises a plurality of groups of'amount or item keys. atotalizer, item entering,-item printing and item indicating mechanism.an d'a driving means. The

23. Near the front end of the release bar the machine.

keyboard comprises a plurality of groups of item or amount keyscomprising front levers 20 (Figs. 1 and 2) and rear levers 21, pivotedon a transverse rod 22 mounted in the side frames 23 -of the machine.The front levers 20 are provided with lateral pins 24 projecting overforwardly extending arms 25 of the rear levers 21 to impart movementthereto. Downward movement of the front lever 20 of a key rocks thecorresponding rear lever 21 to raise its rear end and swing a keycoupler 26 clockwise (Fig. 2) about its pivots 27 in the side frames 23a sufi= cient distance to cause a lip 28 on the key coupler to engageaslot in the rear lever 21 of the key operated.

As the key coupler 26 receives only an initial movement from a key, itsfinal move ment to operate the totalizers, type wheels and indicators issupplied through a driving mechanism operated by a crank (Fig 42 (Fig.8) provided with a cam race 43- shaped to give anoscillatory movement tothe key coupler 26. 'Motion is transmitted from the cam to thekeycoupler by a pitman at forked at one end to slidably engage he shaft 40,and connected at its other end by a stud 45 to an arm 46 secured to theright hand key coupler pivot 27. The pitma'n carries aroller i7cooperating with the cam 'race 43. The cam race has a widened portion 48to permit the key coupler 26 to' be given its initial movement byoperation of a key, as previously described. The shaft 40 is given onecounter-clockwise rotation at each operation of the machine by the crank35. r r

The operating crank 35, which is normally locked against operation, isunlocked by V depressing the front lever 20 of one of the lever keys 20,21. A downwardly extending locking arm or detainer 52 (Fig. 7), freelymounted upon a stud 53 projecting from the side frame 23, carriesa'fiat-sided pin 54% normally in the path of a plate 55 secured to a cam56 rotating with the shaft 40. The lower end of the locking arm 52 isbifurcated to embrace a pin 57 secured in a'horizontal release bar 58slidably mounted upon pins 59 and 60 secured in the side frame 58 is alatch 61 and a restoring pawl 62 freely mounted on a stud 63-securedin'the bar. The restoring pawl- 62 is longer than the .latch 61. Springs64 and 65 attached to the latch 61 and restoring pawl 62 respectively,and to the bar 58, tend at all times to move the latch and pawl in aclockwise direction. The forward end of the latch 61 7) is provided witha shoulder 66 adapted to contact a flat-sided arresting pin 67 mountedin the side frame 23. With the latch 61 in this position, the releasebar 58 is retained in its forward position against the tension of aspring 68 attached to the rea lease bar and to a pin in the side frame.When the latch 61 is moved counter-clockwise by depressing a lever key20, 21, as hereinafter described, the shoulder 66 of thelatch isdisengaged from the pin 67 to en able the spring 68 to move the releasebar 58 toward the right (Fig. 7), and rock the locking arm52'counter-clockw1se thereby re- ,moving the flat-sided pin 54: from thepath of the plate 55 on the cam 56, to permit the driving shaft it) torotate in a counter-clockwise direction. -'The studs .59 and 60 limitthe movement of the release bar 58. As the plate 55 approaches its homeposition near the end of an operation, it wipes against a secondnormally ineffective fiat-sided pin 69 secured in the locking arm 52,and moves the locking arm clockwise back to home position, as shown inFig. 7.

The pin 69, against which the plate 55 wipes to restore the locking arm,is shifted into the path ofthe cam plate 55 when the release bar 58 isfreed to the action of its sprlng 68, and as the cam plate 55 wipes pastthe pin 69, to. restore the locking arm 52, it brings the stop pin 5 1back into the path of the cam plate 55 to arrest the latter at thecompletion of a complete rotation. V V

The cam plate 55, in restoring the locking arm 52, also restores therelease bar 58 connected thereto, to enable the latch 61 to snap overthe stud 67 and retain the release bar 58 in set position.

The restoring pawl 62 has a formed car 73 which overlaps the forward endof the latch 61 to rock this latch counter-clockwise on its pivot 63,when the latch 61 is moved to unlock the machine. not primarily intendedfor thus rocking the latch 61, inasmuch as this could be accomplished byforming an car on the latch 61. The real object in providing'therestoring pawl 62, is to provide. a meansto restore a link 78 to itsnormal position, as will be hereinafter described. out at this timethat,when the pawl 62 is lowered, by a projection at on the link 78, andthe latch 61 released from the stud 67, the spring 68 moves the link 58to the right, and

However, the ear 73 is t is suficient to point the ear 73 then liesbetween the stud 67 and the projection 84 on the link7 8.

A cross-shaft 74 (Fig. 7) journaled in the side frame 23 is rockedclockwise when a lever key is depressed, as will hereinafter bedescribed.

Secured to this shaft 7 4c, and outturned end of the latch 61 l latch 61side of the right hand side frame, is an arm carrying a pin 76 whichtraverses an elongated cam slot 77 formed in a trip link 78. This triplink is pivoted upon a stud 79 secured in an arm 80 freely mounted upona stud 81 secured in the side frame. A spring 82 attached to the triplink 78 and to a pin in the side frame, tends to move both the link 78and the arm 80 on their respective pivots in clockwise direction. As theplate 7 8 moves downward upon the depression of a key 20, a shoulder 83on the link 78 hooks under the flat side of the pin or abutment 67 tolock the trip bar in its operated position. The projection 84 on thetrip link 78 presses downwardly on the ear 73 of the restoring pawl 62and rotates both the latch 61 and pawl 62 counter-clockwise, todisengage the latch 61 from the pin 67 and permit the release bar 58,under the influence of its spring 68, to move toward the right. Therelease bar 58, when thus moved to the right, withdraws the free end ofthe pawl 62 from beneath the projection 84 on the link 78, and moves theupbeneath the stud 67. After the ear 73 of the pawl 62 has been movedfrom beneath the projection 84, the spring 65 rocks said pawl clockwiseuntil an edge 70 strikes the fiat side of the stud 67, to position thecar 73 to the right of the projection 84, so that later when the releasebar 58 is returning to its normal position, the ear 73 on the pawl 62will contact the right hand side of the projection 84, and rock the link78 counter-clockwise to disengage the shoulder 83 from the stationarypin 67, and permit the spring 82 to restore the link and rock thecross-shaft 74 counter-clockwise to their normal positions, as shown inFig. 7.

The up-turned end of the latch 61 is long enough so that, when the bar58 is moved to the right, said up-turned end will remain beneath thestud 67, sliding along the under side thereof. Therefore, both the pawl62 and are provided to prevent an immediate or repeat operation of themachine, should the operator hold one of the keys 20 in its depressedposition. Moreover, the ear 73, by being on the pawl 62, and separatefrom the latch 61, is, as above described, permitted to rockindependently of the latch 61 to position said ear 7 3 high enough,after said ear has been withdrawn from the projection 84, so that itwill be at the right ig. 7) of said projection. Now when the bar 58 isposi tively moved to the left, the link 7 8 will be swung around itspivot 79 and released from the stud 67. The latch 61 wi l also rockclockwise independently of the pawl 62, and latch the bar 58 in itsnormal position. The construction and operation of the pawl 62 and latch61 are substantially the same as that disclosed in the United Statespatent to Von Pein, granted July 20, 1926, the application for which wasfiled April 4, 1921.

The clockwise movement (Fig. 7) and counter-clockwise movement (Fig. 2)of the cross-shaft 74 at the beginning of an operation is caused bdepressing the front lever 20 of a key. Eac 1 key has a lug 85 with aninclined edge 86 engaging an angle plate 87 supported by a plurality ofarms 88 secured to the cross-shaft 74. As the cross-shaft is rockedcounter-clockwise (Fig. 2), the beveled edge on the angle plate 87passes over the upper inclined end 96 of the arm 25 of the rear lever 21of the depressed key, and under the lower edges of the undepressed keys.By this construction the undepressed keys 20 are locked againstmanipulation during operation of the machine, as well as by the lip 28on the key coupler 26 as it passes in front of the curved edges on therear levers 21 of the keys. The engagement of the shoulder 83 on linklocks the trip plate 87 in its operated position, until released by therestoration of the slide 58 to its set position.

Pivotally connected to the rear end of each rear lever 21 of the keys isan upwardly extending actuator controller 97 adapted to en gage a bail98 carried by a rocking frame 99 pivoted on a transverse rod 100, torock said frame a distance proportionate to the key depressed.denominational group of keys 20, and each of the frames has operativelyconnected to it a registering segment 101. All of this is wellunderstood in the art and forms no part of this invention.

Totalz'zz'ng mechanism The totalizer disclosed (Figs. 2 and 3) is knownas a Reading totalizer. It is supported in a pivotally mounted frame 102adapted to be rocked to move the totalizer into and out of engagementwith the registering segments 101. \Vhen so engaged, gears 103 carriedby the rotatable elements 115 of the totalizer are turned as thesegments are rocked.

The totalizer is rocked into engagement with the registering segments101 by a cam 107 2) carried by a main shaft 108 and cooperating withrollers 109 on a bifurcated lever 110 secured to the totalizer frame102. The shaft 108 is journaled in the side frames 23 and is given arotation at each operation of the machine by the driving shaft 40 (Figs.7 and 8) through the gear 42, meshing with an intermediate pinion 111,which meshes with a gear 112 secured to the shaft 108. The totalizerwheels 115 are of well known construction, as is also the transfermechanism, which includes a pivoted lever 116 carrying spring-pressedpawls 117 cooperating with trip pawls 118.

Indicating mechanism- The rear lever 21 of each item key operates atablet indicator 122 (Fig. 2) to display nu- 78 with the pin 67 There isa rocking frame for each merals and characters corresponding to likenumerals and characters on the front lever 20 of the key, all of whichis well known, and is shown here for illustrative purposes only.

Printing mechanism The segments 101 also mesh with pinions 123 (Fig. 2).One of these pinions is secured to the left hand end of a shaft 124while the others are mounted upon the left hand ends of telescopicsleeves 125(Fig. 4) to communicate motion to printing wheels 126 (Figs.1 and 4) for printing the amount of the transaction, as shown at thepoint 127 on an issuing receipt 128, shown in Fig. 5.

The receipt 128 is detached from a supply strip 129 4) which passesunder guide rollers 130 and 131 and between feed rollers 132 and 133mounted on studs supported in the printer frame 41. This strip 129passes beneath the printing wheels 126, date and con secutive numberwheels 134, and electroplates 135 and 136, and above an impressionmember 137 so that when the impression member is operated, an impressionis made upon said strip to form the receipt 128 (Fig. 5).

The impression member 137 is operated by an arm 138 loosely mounted on astud 139 supported by .the printer plate 41. The forward end of this arm138 carries a screw stud 140 projecting into an elongated slot 141 inthe impression member 137. The arm 138 is given an oscillating motion ateach opera.- tion of the machine by a cam groove 142 formed. in the sideof the gear 39, with which cooperates a roller 143 freely mounted on astud secured in the arm 138.

To secure a visible impression, a suitable continuous inking ribbonpasses around guide rollers 147 and 148 mounted on the printer frame,and over an inking roller 149 mounted on a stud projecting from theprinter frame 41. This ribbon is held taut by a tension roller 150supported in a frame mounted upon a rod 151 pivoted in the printerframe. The ribbon is fed at each operation of the machine by anysuitable feeding mechanism connected to the inking roller 149.

The lower paper feed roller 132 (Fig. 4), secured to a shaft 158, isalways turned step by step counter-clockwise by a spring-tensioned pawl154 (Fig. 7) mounted on a pi oted arm 155'and engaging a ratchet wheel156 secured to the shaft 158. The pawl arm 155 is secured to a pinion157 freely mounted upon the shaft 158. A spring actuated pawl 153 (Fig.4) engaging a ratchet wheel 152 secured to the lower feed roller 132prevents a retrograde movement of the paper feed roll-- ers. Meshingwith the pinion 157 7) is a gear segment 159 journaled upon a stud 160supported in the printer frame 41. The gear segment 159 is oscillatedduring each operation of the machine by two cams 56 and 161 secured tothe driving shaft 40. These cams engage rollers 163 and 164respectively, carried on downwardly extending diverging arms 165 and 166forming a part of the gear segment 159. Other parts of the gear segmentare shown broken away, as they do not enter into this invention.

The upper paper feed roller 133 (Fig. 4) is carried on a pivoted arm 167and is held in contact with the lower paper strip 129 above the feedroller 132 by a spring 168. A lever 169 cooperates with the arm 167 toseparate the feed rollers 132, 133 when threading a new supply strip129. a

Only so much of the printer mechanism is disclosed as enters into theinvention here involved.

E Zeotm'c driving mechanism The driving mechanism previously describedis manually operated. The machine, however, may be operated by anelectric motor or other suitable power means. Referring to Fig. 6, aportion of an electric motor driving clutch is shown connected by atrain of gears to the driving shaft 40. The complete motor drivingmechanism is disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States to C. F.Kettering and W. A. Chryst, No. 1,144,418, granted June 29, 1915. Onlyso much of the motor driving mechanism is heredisclosed as is necessaryto describe the control of the motive power by the item keys 20.

he electric motor driving mechanism is normally retained in an inactivestate by a swinging dog 173 pivoted upon the driving shaft 40. This dogis formed at its lower free end 174 to engage with various members ofthe driving clutch for opening and closing the circuit switch andstopping the driving shaft. r

The depression of an item key 20 causes a horizontal trip bar 175 (Fig.6), which corresponds to the bar 58 (Fig. 7), and is operated in asimilar manner, to rock toward the right and move the dog 173counter-clockwise to start the motor. The trip bar 175 is guided by astud 176 secured in the side frame 23 and it is connected to theswinging dog 17 3 by a vertical slot 177 engaging a pin 178 projectinglaterally from the swinging dog. As the lower end 174 of the swingingmember disengages from the clutch members 179, the motor starts andthereafter completes the operation of the machine. Secured to the clutchmember 179 is a gear 180 meshing with an intermediate gear 181 whichmeshes with the gear 42 secured to the driving shaft 40, previouslydescribed. The intermediate gear 181 is freely mounted on a stud 182supported in the side frame 23. Secured to this gear is a tappet 183which, as the gear 181 rotates clockwise contacts a pin 184 mounted inthe swinging dog 173, and returns the dog to its normal position tobreak the electric circuit,

- tion,

stop the driving mechanism, and move the trip bar 17 5 toward the leftto its normal posirestoring the various parts associated therewith totheir normal positions, as previously described in connection with thebar 58 (Fig. 7). The widened portion of the cam race 43 in drive gear 42before referred to, also permits the driving shaft 40 to complete itsrotation without interference from the key coupler 26, which returns toits home position only after the release bar 58 or trip bar 175 is movedto the left to stop the machine and to swing the angle plate 87 torelease the keys.

In a manually operated machine, the operator depresses item keys 20corresponding to the value of the transaction, which imparts an initialmovement to the parts associated with the keys and releases theoperating crank 35, which the operator turns clockwise twice to completethe operation of the machine. This causes the item to be entered in thetotalizer 115, displayed by the indicators 122, and printed on a portionof the receipt strip 129, which is then fed out of the machine.

In an electric, or other power-operated machine, the operator depressesthe item keys 20, as in a manually operated machine. The initialmovement of the parts associated with the keys occurs as above stated,and the power driving means is applied automatically to complete theoperation of the machine, as the swinging dog 173 is rocked upwardly, asshown in the Kettering and Chryst patent previously referred to.

WVhile the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirablyadapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form orembodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment invarious forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a normallylocked operating means, an amount key including two members pivoted on acommon axis with one member furnishing an initial movement to the othermember, and means operated by the first mentioned member to release theoperating means to enable it to impart a continued movement to thesecond mentioned member, and a return movement to both members.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a normallylocked operating means, a key coupler adapted to be oscillated by theoperating means, amount keys adapted to furnish an initial movement inone direction to said key coupler, and means operated by said keys forrendering said operating means operable, to continue the movement ofsaid key coupler.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, amovable member supported by said frame, a plurality of lever keys eachcomprising a front and a rear member pivoted on a common axis, and meanson each front member adapted, when the front member is depressed, tomove said movable member into a cooperative relation with the rearmembers of undepressed keys to prevent manipulation thereof.

4. ln a machine of the class described, the combination of a pluralityof pivoted keys, each comprising a front manipulative member and a rearmember provided with a forwardly extending projection, a locking plate,and a wedge on each front member for moving said locking plate into aposition above or below the forwardly extending projections on said rearmembers.

5. In amachine of the class described, the combination of a frame, adriving shaft journaled in said frame, a movable member carryin'g. anobstruction, means secured to said driving shaft to normally engage saidobstruction, a rocking shaft journaled in said frame, a lever keyequipped with a cam surface, a member secured to said rocking shaft andadapted to be operated by said cam surface to rock said shaft, meansintermediate said rocking shaft and said movable member to move saidmember and remove said obstruction, and means securedto said drivingshaft to engage said movable member to return said obstruction to normalposition.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of item enteringkey levers including front and rear members, said front and rear membershaving different degrees of movements, a key coupler resting on saidrear members, an operating means for said key coupler,'and meansoperated by said front members-toconnect the rear members to the keycoupler and partially operate the same, and to release said operatingmeans after the key coupler has been lifted sufiiciently to couplethereto the rear members corresponding to the front members depressed,said second-mentioned means being inactive while the operating means isactive.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame aswinging trip memberjournaled in said frame; a key lever comprising afront member and a rear member separately pivoted on a common center,the front member adapted to directly engage said swinging trip member toshift the same; a normally ineffective operating means, and meansintermediate said swinging trip member and said operating means torender said operating means effective when the front member of said keylever shifts said swinging trip member.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with totalizerwheels, and actuators therefor; of sectional key levers, each includinga front member and a rear member; actuator controllers connected to therear members; a key coupler overlying the rear members; projections onthe front members of the key levers; arms projecting forwardly from therear members and extending beneath the projections toenable the keycoupler to restore the front members of the key levers to normalposition; means to operate the key coupler; a lock to prevent actuationof the operating means; and a combined trip and key-locking memberoperable by the front members of the key levers, to permit the lock tobe disabled and to latch the undepressed keys against depression.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with atotalizer, sectional keys to determine the amounts registered on thetotalizer, the keys each including a front and a rear member; operatingmeans for the keys; and a detainer to normally hold the operating meansagainst operation; of a release mechanism for the detainer; a latch tohold the release mechanism in idle position; an abutment engaged by thelatch; and a combined trip member and key'lock operated by depression ofa key to displace the latch and lock the undepressed keys againstdepression and the depressed keys against restoration.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination withmanipulative devices, each device including separately mounted mem-'bers, one member adapted to be partially operated by the other member;operating means to complete the operation of said partially operatedmember; and a detainer to nor mally hold the operating means againstoperation; of a release mech anism'for the detainer; a latch to hold therelease mechanism against operation; and tripping means 0perated by saidother member to displace the latch,; and to lock the unoperatedmanipulativedevices against operation.

'11. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with manipulative devices, each device moludmg separatelymounted members, one member'adapted to be partially op erated by theother member; operating means to complete the operation of saidpartially operated member and a detainer for the operating means; ofarelease mechanism for the detainer a; latch to hold the releasemechanism against operation;- a combined locking and tripping meansoperated by said other member to displace the latch and lock theunoperated manipulative devices against operation and means to hold thecombined looking tion. a r V V 12. In a machine of the class' described,the combination with manipulativemembers; operating means; and adetainer for the operatingmeans 'ofa release mechanism for the detainer;alatch' to hold-the release mechanism against oper'ati0n'; av combinedlooking and tripplngmeans operated by a manipulative member to displacethe latch and. lock and tripping member in operated posi- JOSEPH J.KLOSTERMAN.

